FC Sheriff Tiraspol left-back Patrick Kpozo has laid down the gauntlet to Antony, telling the Manchester United star he “couldn’t do anything” against him during the first meeting.
The Red Devils face the Moldovan minnows for the second time on Thursday night, knowing a win will be needed to keep them in the hunt for top spot. Real Sociedad currently sit atop Group E having won all of their Europa League fixtures thus far.
And there is an added incentive for teams to win their groups this season, with the cohort of Champions League drop-outs joining runners-up in an additional round of play-off fixtures. The winners will instead skip that round and move straight to the last 16 - with the added benefit of fewer fixtures in a schedule already close to breaking point.
United take on FC Sheriff at Old Trafford having won 2-0 in the reverse fixture back in September. Goals from Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo earned Erik ten Hag’s side a victory that promises to not live long in the memory. Antony - an £85million summer signing from Ajax - started the fixture, but struggled to have a massive impact as he integrated with his new teammates.
The Brazilian is yet to score in Europe and will be hoping to break his duck at the fifth time of asking but will need to get the better of Kpozo, who enjoyed an impressive run out the first time around. The Ghanian was one of Sheriff’s standouts from that encounter and is confident he’ll be able to keep Antony quiet again.
"People thought Antony was going to 'kill' me in the first game," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport Africa. "He is a very good player but when he came up against me, he couldn't do anything. Still, they are saying again that he will 'kill' me again in the match at Old Trafford.
"I'm sure he will be trying to do everything possible to prove himself, but I believe in myself. I am strong, fast and when I stay close to him, he has nowhere to go. I've got him."
Sheriff come into the fixture with three points from their quartet of European fixtures, but do so without their manager. Stjepan Tomas resigned from his post earlier this week after admitting his players had taken their off the ball with the trip to United upcoming.
“It seems that the players were thinking about the match in Manchester, there was no concentration. This is my mistake,” Tomas explained.
And Kpozo has admitted his mind has been on the clash with the Premier League giants and is intending on wasting no time in his quest to land Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous No.7 jersey.
He added: "For me it was a dream come true to play on the same field as a genuine legend like Cristiano Ronaldo. It was painful to lose but meeting Ronaldo softened the blow.
"He was in a hurry to leave [in Moldova] so we just shook hands and managed to get a quick picture. My team-mate Victor [Oliveira] got his shirt but at Old Trafford, I will go and speak to Ronaldo directly in the warm-up; I want the shirt."
